Famcyclovir

Famciclovir is an antiviral drug used in the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles), herpes simplex viruses and other viral infections. It is a prodrug form of penciclovir with improved oral bioavailability. Famciclovir is marketed under the trade name Famvir (Novartis).

Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]

Famciclovir is a prodrug that is converted to penciclovir in the body. The conversion process is catalyzed by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Penciclovir is then converted to its active form, penciclovir triphosphate, by cellular kinase enzymes. Penciclovir triphosphate inhibits viral DNA polymerase and thus prevents viral DNA synthesis and replication.

Indications[edit | edit source]

Famciclovir is indicated for the treatment of:

Herpes zoster (shingles)
Genital herpes infections in immunocompetent patients
Recurrent mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV-infected patients
Suppression of recurrent genital herpes

Side Effects[edit | edit source]

Common side effects of famciclovir include:

Headache
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fatigue
Abdominal pain

Serious side effects include:

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS)
Acute hypersensitivity reactions
Hepatitis
Seizure

Contraindications[edit | edit source]

Famciclovir is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug or its components.

Drug Interactions[edit | edit source]

Famciclovir may interact with other drugs such as probenecid and digoxin.

Dosage[edit | edit source]

The dosage of famciclovir varies depending on the indication and the patient's renal function.

References[edit | edit source]

Famcyclovir Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.